Psalms 139:16

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them.

Thine eyes {H5869} did see {H7200} my substance, yet being unperfect {H1564}; and in thy book {H5612} all my members were written {H3789}, which in continuance {H3117} were fashioned {H3335}, when as yet there was none {H259} of them.

Your eyes could see me as an embryo, but in your book all my days were already written; my days had been shaped before any of them existed.

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be.

Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Eventhe days that were ordainedfor me, When as yet there was none of them.

Commentary

Psalms 139:16 (KJV) reveals the profound truth of God's intimate knowledge and meticulous design of human life from its earliest, unformed stages. David marvels at the Creator's omnipresence and omniscience, affirming that God's plan for each individual is established even before birth.

Context

Psalm 139 is a magnificent hymn of praise, widely celebrated for its poetic exploration of God's attributes: His omniscience (He knows everything), omnipresence (He is everywhere), and omnipotence (He is all-powerful). Verses preceding this one, such as Psalm 139:1-4, establish David's wonder at God's comprehensive understanding of his thoughts and ways. Verse 139:16 specifically delves into God's involvement in human formation, emphasizing His creative work in the womb and His foreknowledge of every detail of our being.

Key Themes

  • Divine Foreknowledge and Design: The verse powerfully conveys that God's knowledge of us precedes our physical existence. He saw David's "substance, yet being unperfect," indicating an embryonic state. This highlights God as the ultimate architect, with a complete blueprint for each person.
  • The Sanctity of Life: By asserting that all "members were written" and "fashioned" by God before they existed, the psalm underscores the inherent value and sacredness of human life from conception. It portrays life as a divine creation, not a random occurrence.
  • God's Personal Involvement: Far from being a distant deity, God is intimately involved in the formation of every individual. This speaks to a personal, caring Creator who orchestrates our development with intention and purpose. This echoes the sentiment found in Jeremiah 1:5, where God declares, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee."

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "substance" in this verse is golem (Χ’ΦΌΦΉΧœΦΆΧ). It refers to an unformed, embryonic, or raw mass. This term beautifully illustrates the initial, undeveloped state of the human body before it takes on distinct form. The phrase "in thy book all [my members] were written" is a powerful metaphor, suggesting a divine ledger or blueprint where every aspect of David's physical being was pre-ordained and recorded by God, even before "none of them" (no parts) had yet been fashioned.

Practical Application

This verse offers profound comfort and insight for believers today:

  • Assurance of God's Purpose: Knowing that God meticulously designed us before birth can instill confidence that our lives have divine purpose and meaning, as highlighted in passages like Ephesians 2:10.
  • Value of Every Life: It reinforces the biblical perspective on the preciousness of human life at every stage, from conception onward. Every person is a unique, divinely fashioned creation.
  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: For those feeling "unperfect" or struggling with identity, this verse reminds us that God sees our full potential and has a plan for us, even when we are incomplete or feel undeveloped in our own eyes. Our worth is not based on our perfection but on God's perfect design and knowledge of us.
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Cross-References

  • Psalms 56:8 (32 votes)

    ΒΆ Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: [are they] not in thy book?

  • Malachi 3:16 (30 votes)

    Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

  • Revelation 20:12 (26 votes)

    And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.